Just to sum it up, the day so far had NOT gone well. It was just as I'd feared it would be; everyone had bombarded me with the most stupid, ridiculous questions.

"Where were you, Jared?"

"Were you ditching, Jared?"

"Were you really sick, Jared? Did you have mono or something?"

"Why are you cussing me out, Jared?"

"Why can't you just talk to us, Jared?"

Questions like these had come from everyone, and I mean EVERYONE; students, teachers, PTA moms who liked to gossip, you name it. Perhaps the most stupid, annoying question of them all:

"Are you okay, Jared?"

No, of course I wasn't okay! Sure as hell I wasn't okay! It took everything I had not to phase right then and there in the middle of that crowded hallway and attack all those moronic "question askers." I ran. I slammed the big double doors at the end of the hallway aside as I burst out into the rare sunlight. As I did this, I heard one last question:

"Where are you going, Jared?"

"Can't any of you people freaking leave me alone?!?!?!" I snarled back, not knowing or caring who'd had the nerve to ask me that. I ran until I was out of their view, and finally, when I could stand it no longer, I let go of all my self control and let myself explode into my wolf form. I could feel the world around me with my heightened senses; I could see for hundreds of yards, smell the oncoming rain, and hear the piercing cry of a bird somewhere deep in the forest. I was finally alone. Instead of entering that forest, which was what I'd originally intended to do, I ran down to First Beach instead, fast as lighting. I turned back into my oversized human form and jogged over the smooth large stones, each with its own intricate patterns and texture, its own shade of grey, its own tale of formation, and its own personality. I had never felt so in-tune with nature before. I dove into the calm, shallow waves. The cold, salty water felt good against my naked, blazing body. I floated there for who-knows-how long before I the gentle tossing of the waves, the cool, crisp air, and the occasional calls of seagulls calmed me down, and my fingers and toes were starting to look a little pruny, as if I'd spent too long taking a bath. I swan back to dry land, surprised yet again at my new speed and power. I phased again and shook off my sodden fur. I ran to the area where I had exploded into this form earlier and again turned back into a human. After a few minutes of looking, I found the tattered remains of my jeans and my t-shirt. As I pulled them on, I realized that somehow, the loose change hadn't fallen out of my ripped pocket. Actually, it was miraculous that my clothes were still wearable. I walked back to the school, taking my time. I didn't go in. I wasn't going through that again. I walked around the building until I found the pay phone near the office and visitors' entrance. I threw in my loose change and called Sam's house. Instead of the deep, masculine voice I'd been expecting, a soft female voice answered.

"Hello? This is Emily, who's speaking?"

"Oh. Hi, Emily. This is Jared. I was wondering if I can come to Sam's house. I lost it at school, and my clothes are kind of ruined now. My parents are both at work, and besides, I don't think they'd want me to come home. They're terrified of me now," I replied, unable to keep the bitterness and sarcasm out of my voice.

"That's ok, Jared. Sam had to go to a meeting with the tribe elders regarding a couple of other boys that look like they might become part of the Pack soon, but Paul came earlier. He was losing his temper, so he held a frozen water bottle to his head, which brought his temperature down to about one-oh-one, and pretended to be sick. Naturally, the nurse sent him home. Sam thinks maybe he pushed you two back into school a little too early. He's going to give you and Paul the rest of the week to get used to other human beings before you go back, I think," Emily said.

"Well, that's a certainly a plus. I'm coming over there now, then. Bye, Emily." I hung up the phone and sighed with relief. If there was anything I wasn't ready for, it was school.